A view from Wrexham’s Member of the Senedd

Wrexham.com has invited Wrexham & Clwyd South Members of Parliament and Members of the Senedd to write a monthly article with updates on their work in their respective Parliaments and closer to home – you can find them all here. ‌ ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​ ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​ ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​ ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​ ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​ ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​ ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

In this month’s column Wrexham’s MS writes…

Several constituents have contacted me expressing their concerns regarding the proposed housing development at Lower Berse Farm.

The site, which is located to the south of Ruthin Road near Ysgol Clywedog, straddles both the Wrexham and Clwyd South constituencies.

I understand Wrexham County Borough Council is not in receipt of a Planning Application for this development at the current time and that the developer has undertaken a Pre-Application Consultation Exercise, which closed on 6 July.

My colleague, Ken Skates MS, whose Clwyd South constituency is also affected by the development, informs me many residents have written to the developer raising their concerns.

If a Planning Application is subsequently submitted, Wrexham Council, as the Local Planning Authority, would be required to consult with residents as part of the Application.

Readers will be aware Councillors recently voted to reject Wrexham Council’s own Local Development Plan (LDP).

The LDP is a long-term, statutory requirement that enables Councils to plan efficiently and outline preferred sites for housing, retail and employment developments.

I believe the current situation is absurd.  Wrexham remains the only Local Authority in Wales not to have an LDP in place, and its stance is unprecedented in the UK.

Wrexham Council has taken more than a decade to prepare the LDP, which has been deemed sound by Wrexham Council Officers and independent inspectors.

Rejecting the LDP does not stop developments.  The opposite is true as the decision means it is more likely we will have uncontrolled and unplanned developments in Wrexham.

As the Member of the Senedd for Wrexham, I will not have a vote in the decision making process.

However, if and when a Planning Application is submitted, I will, of course, make representations on my constituents’ behalf and encourage residents to make their views known.

It was a pleasure to be back at the Royal Welsh Show. The four-day event held in Llanelwedd in mid Wales is the pinnacle event in the British agricultural calendar and I attended in my role as the Minister for Rural Affairs.

The Welsh Government sponsors the ever-expanding food hall and latest figures have revealed Welsh food and drink exports reached a record high £797m in 2022 – an increase of £157m from 2021.

The Royal Welsh continues to move from strength to strength, showcasing the very best of what Wales has to offer.

Great few days, as always, at the Royal Welsh Show. Weather perfect apart from some rain yesterday afternoon. Lovely to meet up with friends and enjoy amazing Welsh food and drink. 61 events in 4 days means my voice and feet need to recover! pic.twitter.com/Jdn7quqCwW

— Lesley Griffiths (@lesley4wrexham) July 27, 2023

There are still a few weeks left of the summer holidays but parents in Wrexham can prepare for the
new school term in September by accessing the Welsh Government’s School Essentials Grant.

Children whose families are on lower incomes and qualify for certain benefits can apply for a grant of £125 per learner and £200 for learners entering year 7 (to help with increased costs associated with starting secondary school).

The Grant, which helps cover the cost of uniform, sports kit and equipment, is open now and families with children in reception to year 11 are eligible to apply.

People are struggling to make ends meet due to the cost of living crisis but the School Essentials Grant, which is the most generous scheme of its kind in the UK, provides some reassurance and can ease the financial burden facing many families.

https://twitter.com/WelshGovernment/status/1676108762489208833

Good luck to Holt Community Gardeners and all those in the village taking part in this year’s Wales in Bloom competition.

I am sure the judges from the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) will have been just as impressed as I was!

The weather may have been a little disappointing on the day but the village itself looked wonderful and Holt Community Gardeners deserve a huge amount of praise.

Wales in Bloom winners will be announced in September but RHS judges will be returning to Holt this month as the community is also bidding for the coveted Britain in Bloom title.

Good luck to Holt Community Gardeners and all those in the village taking part in this year’s Wales in Bloom competition 🌺🌻🌹🌷🌼🪻

The winner will be announced in September but I’m sure the judges were suitably impressed! pic.twitter.com/FAXVzgEZ2n

— Lesley Griffiths (@lesley4wrexham) July 18, 2023

If you’re a constituent in Wrexham and there is anything I could help you with, please email me: [email protected] or call 01978 355743.  You can sign up to my regular e-newsletter by clicking here.